Friday, February 26, 2010

Notes to the Lord: Tag Lines

Scripture Reflections: Matthew 101He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Lord Jesus—The circle is clarified. We don’t have a record of the calling of each of the disciples, just the inner circle. But at some point the boundaries clarified. With the clearer definition came an increase in authority and responsibility.

2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Lord Jesus--The tag lines that got attached to some stick in my mind…they were pieces of information we have kept all these years. I wonder if these lines…Rocky…I mean Peter, the brother of Andrew, sons of Zebedee, son of Alphaeus, the Zealot, and the betrayer are the ways that these men would have like to be remembered. They are nick names and family relationships remembered, political affiliations, and defining choices—former tax collector, and betrayer. They are pieces of what form lives and made these men individuals.

What are the tag lines that define me Lord? Is it political affiliation? Family relationships? I hope that what ends up defining me are the choices that I have made. Matthew and Judas share that trait…they are remember by the choices that they made. Matthew was defined by the fact that he left a profession to follow you. Judas was, sadly, defined by his choice to reject and betray you. Both men had choices that you offered to them, an opportunity to choose well…both had been given a level of responsibility with risk associated with it.

I don’t like the fact that both men did not choose well. But I can’t ignore the fact that the same basic choice is presented again and again. A God of love and grace offers me a choice, bought at such a price. I have been invested with the responsibility to choose well.

2 comments:

Kurt, reread that last paragraph. You make the statement, "I don't like the fact that both men did not choose well." Didn't Matthew choose well, leaving his profession for follow Jesus? Certainly, Judas didn't choose well but here is a question about Judas that someone once asked me: did Judas actually have a choice? Wasn't he not only heavily influenced by Satan but also left uninfluenced by God?

Both men did not choose well...only one did and one didn't. Matthew was that one that did...not sure how to clean that one up. But then it was early...

I guess I think that if Judas didn't have a choice just like each of us then grace is not free. Free choice has to be free for eveyone doesn't it?

How about Hitler? Did he have a choice? Could he have choosen differently? In my way of thinking if he didn't then grace is not free. Judas and Hitler in the same sentence...not sure I would have ever thought of that one...but...

If Judas didn't have a choice then do we?

Does the whosoever in John 3:16 have a limitation? Except for Judas? Or Hitler...or the guy down the street who plays his stereo too loud...

It has to be apply to everyone or it in my thinking it applies no one. But then I push everything up to the edge and beyond...blessings my friend.